Veil-holder



(No Model.)

B. DETWILER.

} VEIL 11014133.

No. 602,433. Patented Apr. 19, 1898.

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rvrrn STATES VElL-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,433, dated April 19, 1898.

Application filed March 16, 1897.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLEN DETWILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ironbridge,in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Veil-Holder, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to veil holders or clasps, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device adapted to engage the ends or opposite edges of a veil and provided with means whereby the holder may be suitably attached to a'hat 0r bonnet in position for operation with facility by the wearer thereof.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the followingdescription, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the holder or clasp embodying my invention applied in the operative position to a hat. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp and the engaging portions of the hat and veil to show the manner of engaging the same therewith. Fig. 3 is an end view of the holder. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5.is a plan view of the intermediate leaf of the holder detached. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the springs detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The clasp 3, embodying my invention, consists of abase or stationary leaf 6, with which are connected movable outer and intermediate leaves 4 and 5, having their free ends located, respectively, at opposite ends of the clasp for engaging opposite ends or edges of a veil 2, arranged upon a hat 1 or any similar headgear. In the construction illustrated the leaf 4, which is provided with a knob 10 or equivalent means whereby it may be moved at its free end to allow the insertion of the edge of the veil, is connected by a spring 7 with the contiguous extremity of the intermediate leaf 5, and the opposite end of said leaf 5 is correspondingly connected by a spring 7 with the contiguous endof the stationary or base leaf 6. Thus the intermediate leaf is movable at that end which is connected by Serial No. 627,797. (No model.)

the spring7 withthe outer leaf 4 and is adapted to be elevated or moved away from the base or stationary leaf to, admit the edge of a veil. In'th'e construction illustrated the springs consist of coils having terminal tongues 9 for engagement with one of the leaves connected by the spring and an intermediate doubled tongue 8 for engagement with the other of said leaves. This provides for constructing the spring of a single blank of wire, and the tongues are preferably inserted in sockets formed longitudinally in the leaves.

Specifically each spring consists of a blank of string-wire doubled upon itself at its center to form the central tongue 8 and terminal spaced tongues 9, each of which is connected with the central tongue by a coil 7, formed of a plurality of wraps or members which are arranged out of contact in order to spread the spring axially. This provides for engaging the terminal spaced tongues 9 with one of the leaves contiguous to its side edges, while the intermediate tongue 8 is engaged with the adjacent leaf at its center. The coils are formed in opposite directions, the one having a right-hand and the other a left-hand twist, whereby in moving one of the leaves connected by the spring the coils are simultaneously tightened or loosened. This specific construction of spring, however, performs another function than that of yieldingly maintaining the leaves connected thereby, with their flat surfaces in contact with each other or with an interposedobject,such as the edge of a veil. This additional function consists in yieldingly maintaining the leaves of the clamp when folded in registering positions or with their corresponding edges flush with each other, while permitting the lateral deflection of the leaves when strained transversely by the veil engaged therebetween. The advantage of this lateral flexibility or yielding quality of the clamp-leaves resides in the fact that in case the veil is strained the clamp will yield sufficiently to relieve the veil and thus preserveit from injury without releasing the same. Obviously, furthermore, the connection of the spring at its center with one of the leaves and at'its extremities with the adjoining leaf, a plurality of coils being interposed between the terminal and intermediate tongues of the spring, provides for a relative longitudinal yielding movement of the leaves, and also a twisting movement thereof, in order to prevent straining the engaged veil beyond its strength without releasing the same.

Inasmuch as the clamp-leaves are flat-surfaced, it is obvious that some means must be provided for maintaining them in registration or with theiredges flush, and such means, in order to provide a perfectly efficient clamp for the purpose specified, must not be rigid, and thus clamp the veil positively against movement, as it is well known that the wearer of a veil, after engaging one end thereof with a clamping device of this class,draws the other end tightly around the hat in order to engage it in such a way as to prevent displacement, and in so doing there is a tendency to strain the previously-engaged end of the fabric. In the same way it is common, after engaging the ends of a veil with a device of this class, to draw downwardly upon the lower edge of the fabric, and unless the clamp has a yielding quality there will be a liability of tearing such a fragile article, particularly when, as in the construction illustrated, the clamp is positively secured to the bonnet or hat. The positive clamping device for attaching the clasp to the hat is preferable, for the rea son that it relieves the veil of the weight thereof and insures the maintenance of the clasp permanently in the desired position. The open coils of the spring employed in connection with my improved clasp, the double reversed arrangement of those coils, and the respective terminal and intermediate connection of the springs with the adjoining leaves of the clasp insure that flexibility or yielding quality which is found to be desirable in devices of this class.

The means employed for securing the abovedescribed holder or clasp to a hat consist of a clamp-plate 12, arranged parallel with the stationary or base leaf 6 and adapted to be disposed in contact with the inner surface of the hat, and set-screws 4, extending through openings 13 in said clamp-plate and threaded in sockets 11 in the base-leaf. As a veil-holder is preferably required contiguous to the top of the crown of a hat, it is obvious that the arrangement of the set-screws, with their heads within the crown, will not inconvenience the wearer, while the exposed portion of the clasp is located within convenient reach and does not constitute an objectionable attachment. The set-screws, while extending through the material of the hat, do not necessitate punctures of sufficient size to materially impair the appearance of the article in case the clasp should be detached. Furthermore, in order that the veil may be firmly clasped without the risk of tearing in case an edge thereof should be withdrawn forcibly from between the engaging leaves the opposing faces of the leaves are preferably roughened, as shown at 15 in Fig. 5; but it is obvious that under ordinary circumstances a smooth-surfaced leaf will have a sufficient frictional contact with the veil to prevent the accidental disengagement thereof.

The particular advantage of the above-clescribed means for attaching the veil holder or clasp to a hat-crown resides in the fact that the clamp-plate, which is coextensive with the base-1eaf, engages a considerable area of the material of a hat and is locked by the setscrews to firmly clamp the engaged portion of a hat-crown, whereby no vibration of the clasp while in use is allowed. Hence there is no liability of the clasp tearing loose from the hat, and thereby causing openings therein of larger extent than the punctures through which the set-screws are passed. The setscrews do not constitute the means of securing the base-leaf to the hat-crown, but simply serve to hold the clamp-plate in firm frictional contact with the inner surface of the hat.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The herein-described veil holder or clasp having flat-surfaced base, intermediate and outer veil-engaging leaves, a clamp connected with the base-leaf for securing the holder or clasp to a hat-crown, and yielding means for hingedly connecting said leaves, to allow swinging, and also longitudinal and transverse movement in parallel planes, thereof, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described veil holder or clasp having flat-faced coextensive base, intermediate and outer veil-engaging leaves, a clamp carried by the base-leaf for engaging a hat,and yielding means for hingedly connecting said leaves in series to allow swinging, and also longitudinal and transverse movement in parallel planes, thereof, and adapted to normally maintain said leaves in registration with their corresponding edges flush with each other, said means consisting of springs, each having an intermediate and terminal spaced tongues, extending in parallel directions, and respectively engaged with the contiguous edges of adjoining leaves, and reversed open coils connecting the intermediate tongue respectively with the terminal tongues, and each consisting of a plurality of twists or members spaced apart to allow axial expansion and contraction of the coils, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELLEN DETWILER.

Witnesses:

Enos H. DETWILER, W. G. HUNSICKER. 

